Two thirds priced out of the housing market

Less than 30 per cent of people living in West Sussex can afford to buy or rent home on the open market, according to the Commission for Rural Communities. The findings underline the acute lack of affordable housing in rural areas- especially in Sussex where prices are amongst the highest in the country

The commission is the government's adviser on issues affecting people and communities in rural England, and in a discussion paper released yesterday ( Tuesday), it estimates that some 14,000 to 19,000 affordable homes are needed each year over the next five years in order to meet expected new housing needs, with an additional 7,000 per annum to meet the current backlog.

However, the paper points out that assessing housing needs in rural areas is a complex matter and further work is needed, not least to understand better the impact of migration into and out of rural areas. The CRC hopes to encourage an informed debate about the scale of affordable rural housing needs and how they can best be met.

The report reveals the severe human cost for some individuals and rural communities in West Sussex, caused by inadequate and unaffordable housing provision.

For full story see West Sussex Gazette May 10